Henry Mancini - Mr. Lucky Goes Latin (2024)

Mancini recasts some of the numbers he wrote for the popular CBS TV series Mr. Lucky in a Latin light vein. This 1961 release also features two of his best cuts in a circus-minded mix of harpsichord and trombone called "Rain Drops in Rio" and the noirish ballad "Blue Mantilla"; once again, Mancini strikes a fine balance between jazz atmospherics and lounge flourishes. And furthering his stock in after-hours slinkiness, Mancini goes widescreen on layered stunners like "Lujon" and "The Sound of Silver," while taking the conga line to over-the-top extremes on the glibly titled "Cow Bells and Coffee Beans." Topped off by stellar contributions from the likes of Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, pianist Jimmy Rowles, and drummer Shelly Manne, Mr. Lucky Goes Latin qualifies as yet another highly entertaining release from Mancini's early-'60s prime.